Salt-box



( No Model.)

J. A. MOGLINGHY.

SALT BOX.

No. 509,135] Patented Nov. 21, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. MOGLINCHY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SALT-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,135, dated November 21,1893.

Application filed Tune 10, 1892. Serial No. 436.241- (No mode To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN A. MoGLINoHY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Salt-Boxes, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in boxes for containing salt for table use, and the invention consists in the peculiar method of securing the cover of said boxes, and the salt breakers.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents avertical section of a salt box embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the cover detached. Fig. 3- is a side view of the retaining spring. Fig. 4- is a'plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is a side view of the salt breaker, and Fig. 6 a vertical section of the box proper.

A, represents the bodyof the box; A, the neck of same which slopes inward and is contracted near the body as shown at a; the inner or lower portion of which forms an inclined shoulder extending entirely around the box.

B, is the perforated cap or cover formed at its lower end with a shoulderb, that fits over the top of the neck A, so that when secured in place there will not be any lateral movement.

0, is a saddle shaped spring having a ball 0 at each end and this spring is secured to the top of the cover by the salt breaker D, which at its upper end is formed with a screw d, that passes through a hole-in the spring C, and into a threaded hole in the cover. When screwed up tightly a collar 01, bears upon the under side of the spring and holds it firmly in place, the cover preferably being thickened at that point, as in a conical point B to give the end of the screw a good bearing. The stem D, extends nearly to the bottom of the box A, and is provided with a series of arms 01*, for breaking up the salt.

The spring 0 is at its upper end perforated opposite the holes in the cover as shown at 0 so as not to form an obstruction to the contents passing outwhen the box is being used.

By constructing the spring and securing it to the cover as above described, it is evident that the central portion of the spring where it is secured to the cover is substantially rigid and each of the ends exerts its force independently of the other in the same manner as though there were two arms projecting from the cover.

To secure the cover B, the spring is compressed so that the balls 0, will enter the neck A, and after they have been passed down the upper incline beyond the contracted portion a, the spring will be free to expand and the upper inclined surfaces of balls 0 coming into contact with the shoulder below the contracted portion a, will draw down the cover so that it is held tightly on the top of the neck A, but while it is thus held down it is also free to be rotated so that the breaker D, can be caused to loosen the salt in the box. To remove the cover, all that is necessary is to force it off the top of the box either directly upward or over to one side until the upper inclined surfaces at the ends of the springs have been drawn up the inclined surfaces of the shoulders at, and have passed through the smallest portion of the neck of the box. In replacing the cover it is evident that as soon as the lower curve or inclined surfaces of the balls at the ends of the springs have entered the inward slope of the contracted portlon of the neck, pressure upon the cover will cause the ends of the springs to slide down the slope until the shoulder is reached when they w1ll instantly expand and secure it in place upon the box.

Although I have shown and described the box particularly for containing salt, it 1s obvious that it could be used for contain ng other condiments such as pepper, in whlch case the breaker might be dispensed with, and the spring be secured in the cover by a screw.

What I claim is-- 1. A salt box, the mouth of which is contracted and provided with an inward slope or incline above, and with an inclined shoulder below the contracted portion, an inverted cup shaped perforated cover for the box, the rim of which is shouldered to fit over the top of the box and prevent lateral movement thereon, and two spring arms projecting from the under side of the cover, the free end of each of which is provided upon its exterior with a substantially semi-circularcurvedportiomthe IOC lower portion of the curve being adapted to engage with the inclined slope of the box when the cover is being placed upon the box and the top portion being adapted to engage with the shoulder and hold the cover in position,

substantially as set forth.

3. A salt box, the top of which is cylindrical and provided with an inclined shoulder below the mouth, a perforated cover for the box, the rim of which is shouldered to fit the top of the box and prevent lateral movement thereon, and the top is thickened and provided with a screw threaded recess, a flat perforated saddle shaped spring within the cover, the free ends of which are each provided with a ball and a screw through one of the perforations of the spring into the recess in the thickened portion of the cover, the other perforations of the spring registering with the perforations of the cover, substantially as set forth.

.4. As a new article of manufacture a salt box consisting of a body A, having a contracted neck A, a perforated cover B, having a shoulder b, a saddle shaped spring 0, a salt breaker D, having a screw d, at its upper end by which the spring 0, is secured to the cover B, at its center or apex, a ball 0, on each end of said spring 0, to fit under the shoulder a in the neck of the bottle A, whereby said cap or cover is held on two sides by said balls 0, and yet be free to be rotated to operate the salt breaker as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 25th day of May, A. D. 1892.

JOHN A. M GLINOHY. Witnesses:

CHAS. STEERE, EDWIN PLANTA. 

